Khloé Kardashian’s emotional, and often tense, first conversation with her ex-husband, Lamar Odom, in nine years unfolds in the Season 6 premiere of “The Kardashians.”
The reality star and the basketball pro married in 2009. Four years later, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split.
Odom was found unresponsive in 2015 after an overdose and was hospitalized on life support. Kardashian remained by his side during his recovery.
The duo officially got divorced in 2016. Kardashian started an on-again, off-again relationship with NBA player Tristan Thompson, who is the father of her two kids, True, 6, and Tatum, 2. Kardashian and Thompson have since broken up.
During the Season 6 episode, Kardashian reflected more on the highs and lows of their relationship.
“We were married. When it was great, it was spectacular. When it was bad, it was horrific. There wasn’t a lot of in between. We went full throttle, or you hit the emergency brake,” she said.
After their year apart, Kardashian explained she wanted to see Odom again to give back some of his belongings, especially before she turned 40. The pair made plans to meet at Kardashian’s best friend Malika Haqq’s house.
Odom arrived 52 minutes late, much to Kardashian’s annoyance, bearing cake, flowers and champagne. When Kardashian pressed him about being late, Odom said it was because he was busy shopping.
As he took a seat next to Kardashian, the former couple started to make small talk, which made Kardashian think of their past relationship.
“Just in the first glance of seeing Lamar, I feel a little bit of — God, this is so familiar and so unchartered all at the same time. I don’t know this person anymore. I don’t know. It’s really just a mindf–k. I don’t know how else to explain it,” she said in her confessional.
Kardashian also remarked that Odom looked “visually uncomfortable,” “scared” and “nervous” during their conversation, which made her start to feel uncomfortable too.
“I don’t know what he thinks about me, like, if I’m going to go off on him. He just seems very scared, and I don’t want anyone to be that uncomfortable. It’s just making me more uncomfortable, too,” she said.
Kardashian asked Odom directly, “What are you so nervous about? Everything’s’ fine.”
Odom responded, “I don’t know, Khloé.”
“Take a breather,” she said.
They reminisced about the last time they saw each other. Kardashian said she was leaving for Las Vegas and she was “kicking (him) out of the Calabasas house.”
When asked what he’s been up to since then, Odom said, “A little bit of this. A little bit of that. Hustle, man.”
To break the ice, Kardashian gave Odom back a custom diamond necklace that she had gifted him long ago. The necklace featured three angel wings on it to represent his late mother, grandmother and son, who passed away at 6 months old.
“Aww, Khloé, you are the best,” the former NBA player said after taking the gift.
“Just as you left it,” Kardashian replied.
Kardashian then gave Odom back a few more of his possessions, such as his mother’s driver’s license, his wedding bands and his NBA sixth man of the year award that he got while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I have dealt with so much trauma in this relationship for years, and this was such the love of my life that that to learn how to un-love someone, to have to go through all that — it’s almost like a death,” she said.
“My wife is the s–t,” he told her after she gave back his jewels and a basketball award.
“OK, calm down,” she said.
Kardashian later said in a confessional, “Him calling me ‘his wife’ — words are empty.”
After Odom received his items, the two were able to reach a place of deeper vulnerability — though it wasn’t without difficulty.
“I can see Lamar is having such a hard time speaking. And I understand. We have been through so much. Maybe I remind him of a time in his life that’s a really dark time. I don’t know. But right now it’s just uncomfortable memories and feelings,” Kardashian said in a confessional.
Odom, looking at his ex, called the conversation “an out of body experience,” and remarked Kardashian’s son looks a lot like her.
Odom seems to reference their time together.
“I took you through a lot, huh?” he said.
“I can’t say that was the easiest time,” she responded.
“No, not for me either,” he said. “Yeah, I f–d up … with you. I love you for trying your hardest with me, man.”
“Thank you.”
“That love — I don’t think it will ever go away. I know it wont.”
